How many recalls does the 2003 International 8600 have?

6 open NHTSA safety recalls are on record for the 2003 International 8600, alongside 1 owner complaints.

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2003 International 8600 Recalls & Complaints

open safety recalls on record

Critical

1 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.00 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical05V567000

Engine And Engine Cooling

IF CHAFING OCCURS BETWEEN THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CABLES, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY RESULT AND MAY CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE GROUND CABLES FOR PROPER ROUTING. IF ANY CHAFING IS FOUND, THE ENGINE BLOCK GROUND CABLE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHORTER (280MM) CABLE AND ANY OTHER DAMAGED CABLES WILL BE REPLACED AND ROUTED CORRECTLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-448-7825.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES, THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL GROUND CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE ENGINE BLOCK WITH THE STARTER MAY BE ROUTED IN A WAY THAT COULD CAUSE CHAFING AGAINST THE STARTER'S POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES.

Critical04V306000

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables

THIS COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND/OR FIRE.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR ANY CHAFING. IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF CHAFING, A SADDLE CLAMP WILL BE INSTALLED. IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CHAFING, THE DAMAGED CABLES WILL BE REPLACED AND THE SADDLE CLAMP INSTALLED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-448-7825.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH INTERNATIONAL DT530, CUMMINS, OR CATERPILLAR I-6 ENGINES, THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE BETWEEN THE BATTERIES AND THE STARTER MAY RUB AGAINST AN ELECTRICAL GROUND CABLE BETWEEN THE STARTER AND FRAME RAIL.

Critical03V070000

Electrical System:Starter Assembly

DIRECT SHORT MAY CREATE A FIRE HAZARD AND CAN RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STARTER NOSE CONE. THE NEW NOSE CONE WILL REORIENT THE STARTER STUD FARTHER AWAY FROM THE FRAME RAIL TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THE CLEARANCE ISSUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 21, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-448-7825.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS BUILT WITH A CATERPILLAR ENGINE WITH A 4 DEGREE TILT, THE STARTER FIELD-STUD MAY CONTACT THE FRAME RAIL BECAUSE OF VARIATIONS IN THE AIR GAP BETWEEN THE FIELD STUD AND THE FRAME RAIL. SHOULD THE STARTER FIELD STUD CONTACT THE FRAME RAIL, THERE WOULD BE A DIRECT FULL BATTERY SHORT TO THE FRAME (GROUND) WHEN THE STARTER IS IN THE CRANKING MODE.

Serious05V188000

Trailer Hitches:Fifth Wheel Assembly

IF THE SLIDE CONTROL ACTUATES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, MOMENTUM FROM THE TRAILER CAN CAUSE THE FIFTH WHEEL TO SLIDE WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE DRIVER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE MSVA 7-PACK TO A LESS WATER INTENSIVE ENVIRONMENT. A NEW MSVA 7-PACK BASE, THAT HAS BEEN IMPROVED TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION, AND ALL AIR ACCESSORY SOLENOIDS WILL BE INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-448-7825.

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR OPERATED FIFTH WHEEL SLIDES AND AN MSVA 7-PACK ACCESSORY CONTROLLER, THE 7-PACK CAN ALLOW WATER TO CONTAMINATE ITS CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS COULD RESULT IN INADVERTENT OPERATION OF THE FIFTH WHEEL SLIDE CONTROL.

Serious03V192000

Steering:Linkages

THIS COULD RESULT IN A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY AND DRAG LINK IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-448-7825.

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DANA SPICER E-12021 12,000 LB., E-1202W 12,000 LB., OR E-1002W 10,000 LB. FRONT NON-DRIVE STEER AXLES, THE TAPERED BORE THAT CONNECTS THE DRAG LINK TO THE STEERING WAS MACHINED TOO LARGE. THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN A CORRECTLY SIZED DRAG LINK BALL STUD AND THE OVERSIZED TAPERED BORE IS SUFFICIENTLY GREAT ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE DRAG LINK BALL STUD TO FATIGUE AND BRAKE, OR ALLOW THE CASTLE NUT TO BACK ITSELF OFF AND CAUSE THE DRAG LINK TO DISCONNECT.

Serious23V353000

Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights

Low visibility or obstructed back up lights may not alert other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, raises the risk of a crash.

Remedy & full details

Dealers will replace the existing rear stop/turn signal lights, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 06, 2024. Owners may contact Navistar's customer service at 1-800-448-7825. Navistar's number for this recall is 23514.

Navistar, Inc. (Navistar) is recalling certain 2000-2003 International 8100, 2001-2003 International 9100i, 2001-2007 International 9400i, 2001-2010 International 9200i, 2002-2007, 2009 International 8500, 2003-2007, 2013 International 9900i, 2003-2018 International 8600, 2004, 2007 International 9900iX, 2008-2018 International ProStar, 2010-2011, 2013, 2016 International LoneStar, 2011-2012, 2016 International 4400, 2017-2024 International LT, 2018-2024 International RH, 2019-2021 International LS, 2019-2024 International MV vehicles. The back-up lights offer low visibility when the vehicle is in reverse and bobtail mode. Also, the vehicles have not been equipped with additional unobstructed back-up lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Complaint volume

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes

0Fires

0Injuries

0Deaths

Across 1 complaints. Severity Index 0.00.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Electrical System:Wiring — 1 reports

What to do

Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

2003 · 2011 (3)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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